LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A 33-year-old man who left a loaded semi-automatic handgun within reach of toddlers pleaded no contest to charge resulting from his daughters death.
In exchange for the plea to two counts of aggravated child endangerment, prosecutors dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge Friday against Chance Smith, of Lawrence. He will be sentenced Nov. 7.
Smiths 1-year-old daughter, Autumn Grace Smith, was hit by a bullet and died in September 2017 at the familys home.
Smith told police that he was outside for five or 10 minutes and didnt hear a gunshot. When he came back in he found a 2-year-old boy crying and Autumn upstairs, shot.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports Smiths attorney said hes expected to be placed on probation and ordered not to own any guns.
Dad who left gun out pleas in daughters death
